By David Warmflash

Earlier this year, the Scripps Research Institute introduced a new, extremely effective method for making drugs selective to chirality. This will be a milestone in a pharmaceutical world that’s growing ever more cognizant of the impact of drug stereochemistry, the 3-dimensional orientation of asymmetric, or chiral, carbon atoms. Continue reading →

By Catherine Abbott

Only seconds after I advised my mother to point the uncaged champagne bottle away from my sister’s face—two days before her wedding—the cork exploded, surging at a speed of up to 50 mph. Those small corks are holding in pressure three times that of an automobile tire, so of course when you unleash that “brut” force, the cork will fly and the bubbles will flow. In fact, the American Association of Ophthalmology even provides recommendations for how to safely open champagne bottles to avoid eye injuries. Continue reading →

Pheromones, chemicals secreted or excreted by the body that trigger a behavioral or physiological response in members of the same species, come in all shapes and sizes. They can facilitate communication, warn you that a predator is approaching, stave off others from laying their eggs near yours, stake out your territory (those of you with male dogs are all too familiar with this one), or lead you to a viable food source. Found in creatures from insects to complex vertebrates and even plants, pheromones highlight some of the wonderful ways in which our biology and chemistry can work together to help keep us safe. But as Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, we’d rather focus our attention on another type of chemistry: sex pheromones … Continue reading →

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